Lock joint



LOCK JOINT Filed Nov. 18, 1944 INVENTOR- 5 MNFREDEMLSONZ I ATTORNEY l'atented Nov. 4, 1947 Winfred E. Wilson, Los-Angeles, of one-half; toNina. Mae

Calif, assignor Wilson Application November 18, 1944, Serial No. 564,146

1 Claim.

This invention relates to lockjoints.

Specifically, the invention; contemplates improvements inlore-fabricated structures, such as may be formed from plywood. Thepresent invention is adapted to be utilized for pre-fabricatedstructures to the extent that panels of said structures may be rapidlyassembled with one surface of the panels in substantially flushrelationship.

An object of the present invention is to provide a lock joint forinterconnecting panels, which resists tension, compression, and shearstresses in the plane of the panels along and at a right angle to thejoint.

The present invention is adapted for use with floors, roofs, wallsurfaces, and like structural members. The invention will permit thestandardization of sections for floors, roofs, and wall surfaces, thusresulting in a saving of field labor and the proper erection ofdwellings of different types. Thus, by forming the sections of a givensize, one man by following plans may erect a dwelling in a minimum oftime with the use of simple tools, such as a hammer, saw, nails, and thelike.

Those skilled in the art will readily appreciate the function to beperformed by the present invention, and the invention is simple ofstructure, inexpensive in cost of manufacture, and capable of producingsuperior results.

With the above mentioned and other objects in view, the inventionconsists in the novel and useful provision, formation, construction,association, and relative arrangement of parts, members and features,all as shown in certain embodiments in the accompanying drawings,described generally, and more particularly pointed out in the claim.

In the drawings:

Figure 1 is a fragmentary plan view of a pair of panels held interlockedthrough the use of the present invention,

Figure 2 is a fragmentary side elevation look ing in the direction ofthe arrow 2 of Figure 1 and showing the lock joint,

' Figure 3 is a fragmentary perspective view illustrating one panel inthe act of being interlocked with a second panel,

Figure 4 is a fragmentary perspective view of a modified form of onemember'of the lock joint, and,

Figure 5 is a fragmentary perspective view of a second member of thelock joint for use with the device shown in Figure 4.

Referring now to the drawings, I have pro- 2. vided a pair of members iand 2 which may constitute panels, flooring, ceiling, a wall surface,roof or similar structure member, and which two members are adapted tobe held in working relationship and against displacement laterally whentwo ofthe surfaces are flush, as illustrated. The surfaces referred toare the uppermost ones of the panels 5 and 2 as shown in Figure 2 at 3and l. This interlocking action is obtained by providing one of thepanels with a portion 5 depending from its lowermost surface'fi andwhich portion 5 cooperates with part 1 depending from the lower surfaceof member 2.

Portion 5 is constructed by providing a transverse web 8 spaced inwardlyfrom and paralleling edge 9 of the panel, and which web has integrallyor otherwise formed therewith base l0, which is spaced from the undersurface 6 and extends forwardly of edge 9 a selected distance. Base i9is provided with a heel comprising a transverse enlargement H whichparallels the web 8, the upper surface I2 of which is spaced a slightdistance below the plane of the under surface 6 of the panel.Enlargement H and edge 9 are beveled at l3 and I l, respectively.

The member 7 of the lock joint includes an enlargement formed on theunder surface of panel 2, this enlargement having a beveled, edged heeli5, a plane surface It paralleling surface 4, with a tongue ll whichextends beyond edge IQ of the panel. The tongue I? is beveled at IS. Thebeveled edge i5 is at the same angle as the beveled edge I3 of portion 5and the thickness of part I? corresponds to the width of the groove inportion 5. This groove is, of course, formed by the web 8, the undersurface 8 of the panel l and the surface I 6, the intention being thatwhen part i is in the position shown in Figure 2 that the top surfaces 3and 4 of the panels are flush.

In the form of the invention shown in Figures 4 and 5, the-projectionsor tongues ll of Figures 2 and 3 are serrated, as shown in Figure 5, at23. The serration provides a spacing 2! between two projections. Theother member adapted to interlock with the projections is provided withspaced blocks 22 confined in the recess or groove included betweensurfaces 6 and I6 and the web 8. Thus, the blocks are so spaced as to bereceived between pairs of projections 20 and within the space 2!. Otherfeatures remain the same as the structure of Figures 2 and 3.

The operation, uses and advantages of the invention just described areas follows:

When it is desired to rapidly assemble panels, the edges of which are tobe interlocked, one of the panels may be tipped so that the projectionsor tongues ll will readily enter the recess or groove of theinterlocking joint of the opposite panel as, for instance, illustratedin Figure 2. The beveled edge 14 of one panel member allows a readyentrance of the projection l1 within the recess of the other member ofthe lock joint. This member is, of course, moved into such position thatthe beveled edges l3 and I5 of the heels are in contiguous relationship,as shown in Figure 2.

In the form of the invention shown in Figures 2 and 3, it is obviousthat this type of lock joint readily resists tension and compression inthe plane of the panels at right angles to the joint.

In the case of the form of the invention shown in Figures 4 and 5, theserrated projections, by entering the serrated recesses not onlyprovides a joint which resists tension and compression in the plane ofthe panels at right angles to the joint but, in addition, resists shearalong the joint.

It is apparent that any edge of a panel may be provided with a lockjoint member, depending on the pattern desired. Thus, the oppositeparallel edge of panel I would be provided with a lock joint member like1 and panel 2 with a lock joint member like 5. This provides forcontinuous interlocking of panel members, as desired.

I claim:

Means for interlocking two panels at an edge of each panel, includingtwo members, both of which depend from their respective panels, one ofsaid members provided with spaced recesses, a base extending forward ofthe edge of the panel, and a heel portion paralleling the edge of thepanel; and said member secured to the other panel formed with spacedprojections extending forwardly of the edge of said panel and with aheel portion; said projections adapted for reception in the spacedrecesses of the other member to bring the top surfaces of the panelsinto flush relationship, the said heels of the said two memberscooperating to prevent relative displacement of the two members andwhereby the two members resist tension and compression in the plane ofthe panel members at right angles to the two panel members and shearlengthwise of the two members.

WINFRED E. WILSON.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file ofthis patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 713,577 Wickham NOV. 11, 19021,015,584 Powell Jan. 23, 1912 213,740 Conner Apr. 1, 1879 2,371,856Cade Mar. 15, 1921 2,360,933 Bunker Oct. 24, 19M

